1965 EKO 820 CONDOR 4V
This 1965 EKO Condor 820 4v guitar is one of my collectors item instruments that does not get used for anything other than photo-shoots and display – that’s right – it is ‘just’ a conversation piece…
EKO Electric Guitars started in Italy in 1959 by Oliviero Pigini. The look of an EKO is obviously unique with each of their guitar body designs remaining distinct throughout all of the various EKO electric model lines.
If you’ve perhaps never heard of this guitar brand do not be surprised, these low production Italian electric guitar’s were popular throughout the 1960’s and they offered guitarists a tone that is somewhere in between a Telecaster and a Stratocaster.
…Each EKO design follows a similar body contour of all the preceding EKO guitars dating back to the inception of EKO’s electric guitar line…
The EKO “Condor” model V4 has a body design that is highly unique yet most certainly archetypal to the classic look of the Fender Jazzmaster.
My 1965 EKO Condor is in relatively good condition, and is almost completely original aside from the tuners, (they were replaced at some point). My EKO also does not look as though it was played very much.
It features the classic EKO “4-pickup” design which offers a wide variety of pickup variations and a lot of great tone options.
All of the guitars pickups, switches, and controls are working properly with no static, or buzzing and the sound is both loud and powerful.
The action is still smooth and the frets are clean from one end of the ebony fretboard to the other. Since it has such low hours of use, the frets are in excellent shape – showing very little wear. The adjustable neck is straight, and the truss rod is still working perfectly.
The body is solid with next to no cracks, breaks, or repairs. There are a few light scratches and one chip mark in the finish, (which if you are familiar with classic guitars, is common for a guitar that is over 50 years old).
EKO still manufactures several unique electric guitars, (along with many other acoustic string instruments, music gear, effects and amps). Their plant is located in Montelupone, Italy.
Visit their website for more information.
https://www.ekoguitars.it/en/
side-note:
When I acquired this guitar it came with a nice bonus item, an original 1960’s Fender tweed case.